Bowie's most glorious vocal performances - join in and be specific

Many of us have given his back catalogue and performances new attention lately. What would you consider his most glorious vocal performances that we should all enjoy; whether studio or on stage... ?

Always liked his multi layered vocals, like the ones on Lou Reed's Satellite of Love (while he sounded like Ziggy on his own album). Or the wonderful live versions of Life on Mars - like the ones at Glastonbury (suffering from laryngitis) or on the Tonight Show - or the truly great Wild Is The Wind at the BBC .

If you'd like to join in, please be specific and let's make this a thread to revisit....

 

I do love his live version of "Wild Is The Wind" that opened up the 2000 show at the BBC:

 

Two of my favorite vocal performances of David Bowie are Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (reprise) and Fantastic Voyage.
In Sweet Thing, it's the way he starts out so low and continues to build and build, with the melody climbing up till the explosive "Will you seeeee that I'm sad and I'm loneeeeely". Amazing stuff.

Fantastic Voyage is SO well sung too. And the climax is "And we'll never say anything nice again, will weeeeeeeeeeee." Goosebumps.

 

Nothing to say about it. It speaks for itself.

 

Look no further.

 

Love the way he sings All the Young Dudes on David Live.

Tim

 

Obvious choice, but "It's No Game (Pt. 1)." It is really, really not easy to do that painful stuff with/to your voice and also manage to sound fantastic while doing it.

 

"Space Oddity"

 

"Fame" really showcases his ability to sound like five different singers, all in the same song.

 

"African Night Flight" is an absolute wonder of breath control.

 

Heroes, the studio version, last verses, when his voice becomes impassioned and wailing

I, I will be king
And you, you will be queen
Though nothing will drive them away
We can be heroes, just for one day
We can be us, just for one day

I, I can remember (I remember)
Standing, by the wall (by the wall)
And the guns, shot above our heads (over our heads)
And we kissed, as though nothing could fall (nothing could fall)
And the shame, was on the other side
Oh, we can beat them, forever and ever
Then we could be heroes, just for one day

 

Young Americans is pretty much flawless in the vocal department. (The studio version.)

 

"Criminal World" on Let's Dance comes to mind (among many others).

David's vocals are completely in the pocket with the Nile Rogers/Stevie Ray Vaughan guitar groove.

 

Outstanding, thanks for sharing that was the more tracks that he performed?
Cheers

 

"Word on a Wing" has always been my favorite vocal of his--soulful, sincere, powerful.

 

Ok, Sweet Thing and Fantastic Voyage already had a mention, so how about "WHO has seen this furious man? / WHO will rid me of this shaking HEAD!?" From The Enemy Is Fragile from Leon?

I think it's unlike anything else he committed to tape. I can't really describe it, it just needs to be heard.

 

@deany76 there's more where that came from and the audio was released as a bonus disc when the Bowie at The Beeb set was first released.

 

"Go-hey-ho-hold, golden years, go-ew-old..." (wah wah, wah)

 

I like his vocals on two songs from films, "Cat People" and "This is Not America."

 

Hi thanks for the info.
I have got the Bowie at the Beeb 3 cd. There is so much music I have bought & still need to listen too, I missed 3rd cd track one. Felt quite emotional watching at 2min 40sec.
thanks again

ps
I thought it was the spider tour/Aladdin keyboardist Mike Garson

 

These studio ones are the ones that REALLY standout among so many good ones..

Sunday (2002)

You've Been Around (1993)

Nite Flights (1993)

New Angels of Promise (1999)

I Can't Read (1997)

The Voyeur of Utter Destruction (1995)

China Girl (1983)

Baal's Hymn (1982)

Teenage Wildlife (1980)

Look Back in Anger (1979)

Helden (1978)

Always Crashing in the Same Car (1977)

Station to Station (1976)

Who Can I Be Now (1975)

1984 (1974)

Watch That Man (1973)

Five Years (1972)

Life on Mars? (1971)

The Man Who Sold the World (1970)

 

Yes, I also think 'Putting Out Fire' from Cat People is one of his most intense vocals.

 

Life On Mars.

 

"Look Back in Anger", from Lodger, has one of those soaring vocals that he occasionally deploys. The song itself is okay, although it has a great rhythm guitar solo, but Bowie really hits the big notes, like the chap from aha.

Odd choice, but his vocal performance on the Baal EP is striking. It grows on you. He really tries, and his voice is basically clean without effects.

Also, "Win" from Young Americans, which is an uncannily accurate imitation of contemporary soul.

 

My personal favorite Bowie Song is 'Rebel Rebel'.